MSG-CPP: clouds, radiation and precipitation from Meteosat
The Cloud Physical Properties (CPP) algorithm is being developed at KNMI to derive cloud, precipitation and radiation products from satellite instruments such as SEVIRI onboard the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite. The CPP algorithm development is largely done inside EUMETSAT's Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring (CM SAF), but also in other research projects.
While CM SAF focuses on the generation of climate data records - such as CLAAS-3 for cloud properties from MSG-SEVIRI - here we offer real-time products using Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) services:
- cloud parameters: cloud mask, top-height/-temperature, phase, optical thickness, particle size, liquid/ice water path
- surface incoming solar radiation (total and direct/diffuse)
- precipitation rate
Products from the past week can be visualized in a dedicated viewer, while an archive back until November 2024 is available for download at the KNMI Dataplatform (see Download and data access).
Go to the viewer
The MSG-CPP service was started in 2012. A major upgrade from v1 to v2 was implemented in March 2021 (see MSG-CPP product description for details). A smaller update was implemented on 13 November 2025, including the following changes:
- Update to NWC SAF GEO v2025 for cloud mask and top height/temperature
- Introduction of snow-including climatological surface albedo maps
- Adaption of the code to Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) Flexible Combined Imager (FCI) data. After a test period, the corresponding products are planned to be made available in spring 2026.
Note that some of the products are provided only during daytime (sun at least 6 degrees above the horizon), because their retrieval relies on solar backscattered radiation.
More detailed information can be found by following the links below: